Arctic Liquid Freezer III 280
280 AIO
Corsair iCUE H170i Elite Capellix XT
420mm AIO · 2200 RPM · iCUE LINK
Arctic Liquid Freezer III 280 takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Arctic Liquid Freezer III 280 lands at 90 and Corsair iCUE H170i Elite Capellix XT at 89. That puts Arctic Liquid Freezer III 280 ahead by 1 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Arctic Liquid Freezer III 280 if…
- ✓Multi-socket bracket support
- ✓Quiet fans at idle
- ✓Strong TDP rating
Pick Corsair iCUE H170i Elite Capellix XT if…
- ✓420 mm radiator handles even RTX 5090-class CPUs
- ✓iCUE LINK simplifies cabling
- ✓LCD display optional
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testNoise
TieCompared on the noise sub-score
Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.
Value for money
Arctic Liquid Freezer III 280Specdex score per dollar at MSRP
Arctic Liquid Freezer III 280 more score per dollar ($99 vs $309).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Arctic Liquid Freezer III 280 | Corsair iCUE H170i Elite Capellix XT |
|---|---|---|
| Type | 280 AIO | 420mm AIO |
| Fan size | — | 3× 140 mm ML140 RGB |
| Pump speed | — | 2400 RPM |
| Sockets | — | AM5 / AM4 / LGA1851 / LGA1700 / sTRX4 |
| Tube length | — | 450 mm |
| Warranty | — | 5 years |
Arctic Liquid Freezer III 280
- +Multi-socket bracket support
- +Quiet fans at idle
- +Strong TDP rating
- −Height may conflict with RAM heatspreaders
- −AIO pump noise varies
- −Installation requires motherboard-off
Corsair iCUE H170i Elite Capellix XT
- +420 mm radiator handles even RTX 5090-class CPUs
- +iCUE LINK simplifies cabling
- +LCD display optional
- −420mm requires E-ATX or larger case
- −Pricey vs Arctic competitor
- −iCUE software heavy
FAQ: Arctic Liquid Freezer III 280 vs Corsair iCUE H170i Elite Capellix XT
Which is better, Arctic Liquid Freezer III 280 or Corsair iCUE H170i Elite Capellix XT? +
Arctic Liquid Freezer III 280 scores 90 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 1. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Arctic Liquid Freezer III 280 worth the price? +
At $99, Arctic Liquid Freezer III 280 delivers a Specdex score of 90 — strongest in thermals.
Is Corsair iCUE H170i Elite Capellix XT worth the price? +
At $309, Corsair iCUE H170i Elite Capellix XT delivers a Specdex score of 89 — strongest in cooling.
Does Arctic Liquid Freezer III 280 or Corsair iCUE H170i Elite Capellix XT last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.
Which is the better value, Arctic Liquid Freezer III 280 or Corsair iCUE H170i Elite Capellix XT? +
Arctic Liquid Freezer III 280 — more score per dollar ($99 vs $309). Specdex score per dollar at MSRP.